Return of the Shattered Constellation - Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Vroom―!
A Mercedes Benz CLS was quickly crossing Olympic Boulevard.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ scolds and tells you to stop being so depressed.]
“But how can I not be depressed, ma’am? Hye-Bin said I annoyed her! Argh, she was so cute and innocent, but she became really cold and spoke so harshly…!” Woo Yeong-Geun wailed.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless GIant’ shakes her head, unable to believe how her silly apostle candidate was acting.]
[The Celestial ‘Nameless GIant’ scolds you, saying how in the world could you ever become a trustworthy apostle who will lead her followers.]
The ‘Nameless Giant’, the deity whom Chang-Sun called Ueopwang, kept sending Yeong-Geun messages to tell him to stop whining. He had been in a bad mood since he dropped Woo Hye-Bin in Jamsil, but his behavior was understandable for a simple reason. After ‘Yeti Hill’ had been cleared, Hye-Bin became really cold around Yeong-Geun. Just recently, she reached her coldest behavior ever.
When Hye-Bin was asked to join Chang-Sun’s team, Yeong-Geun felt as if he had been struck by a random lightning bolt. He wasn’t looking down on Chang-Sun since he knew Chang-Sun couldn’t be considered a rookie anymore. The speed at which he leveled up, his combat techniques… Yeong-Geun couldn’t even begin to fathom Chang-Sun’s full power.
In fact, considering how Chang-Sun fought the Frost King, Yeong-Geun couldn’t guarantee victory if he were to fight Chang-Sun. Although Chang-Sun did have the advantage because of his fire-type ability, it didn’t take anything away from his talent. Yeong-Geun couldn’t believe a rookie who wasn’t even a ranker was that talented.
Chang-Sun’s skills caught not only Yeong-Geun and the Council’s eyes but also the foreign media’s. In the end, Chang-Sun’s ridiculous talent could be described with one phrase—a genius sent by Heaven. Hye-Bin said she wanted to have such a genius’ back, especially since Chang-Sun helped her in ‘Yeti Hill’ just as how he had helped her during the Jamsil Gate incident.
However, Yeong-Geun’s worries didn’t involve Chang-Sun. Yeong-Geun was only concerned if Hye-Bin could really become properly independent from him and the Sword of Ohsung Clan. The subtle rivalry between the White Tiger Clan and the Sword of Ohsung Clan also bugged him, but Hye-Bin was too young in Yeong-Geun’s eyes. She was just sixteen and wasn’t even a high-school student yet. Instead of facing the world’s harsh sandstorm, a sixteen-year-old should be in the warm embrace of her parents.
“It feels like just yesterday that she called me ‘wuncle’ as she held my index finger with her tiny baby hands. Sob!” Yeong-Geun sniffled.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ lightly clicks her tongue.]
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ asks about what you can do about it, seeing as how the child has already become a warrior.]
Ueopwang firmly denied Yeong-Geun’s opinion since she already considered Hye-Bin a warrior. The Sword of Ohsung Clan had three ranks: trainee, warrior, and grand warrior. The rank ‘trainee’ usually referred to the new employees and deputy section chiefs, and the section chiefs and department heads were called warriors. The grand warriors were basically executives.
To summarize, Ueopwang had already assessed Hye-Bin as a talented woman who was better than the Clan’s section chief. Yeong-Geun wanted to object but couldn’t since he knew Ueopwang was right. Aside from Chang-Sun, Hye-Bin showed the most brilliant performance in ‘Yeti Hill.’ No matter how overgeared one was, they had to have talent before they could use those items properly. That was what Ueopwang was talking about. If Hye-Bin leveled up and gained more experience, she would drastically improve.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ says a child always becomes independent in the most unexpected moments.]
Now that even his Guardian had given Yeong-Geun such advice, he couldn’t stay depressed any further.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ adds that the only thing an adult can do for their baby bird before she flies is to encourage the bird, not fly on her behalf.]
“… You know, I can’t refute it if you put it that way.” Yeong-Geun pouted.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ scolds you, saying why should she care so much about her immature apostle candidate’s mental health.]
Scratching the back of his head, Yeong-Geun answered, “Well, isn’t a humane apostle better?”
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ heaves a long sigh and says your ‘humaneness’ makes her frustrated as hell.]
Yeong-Geun scratched his cheek with his index finger. Although Ueopwang could seem like a nagging deity, he knew how affectionate she was. It would be difficult to find a Celestial as affectionate to humans as Ueopwang among those who were interested in the Saha World.
“It’s still nice.” Yeong-Geun faintly smiled, holding the steering wheel.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ frowns, querying about what absurd thought you have this time.]
“You know, I sometimes see you as an aunt who protects and worries about my family—!” Yeong-Geun stopped talking and abruptly turned the steering wheel.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ roars, asking what the hell you’re saying to a woman who isn’t even married!]
A bolt of lightning struck where Yeong-Geun had been just now, sending a shiver down his spine. Fortunately, only a few cars were on the big boulevard. If there was a traffic jam, things could have become messy.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless GIant’ glares at you and says she will send more if you keep being absurd.]
“Y-yes, ma’am!” Yeong-Geun sat straight like a soldier and fervently nodded. For some reason, Hye-Bin and Ueopwang became angrier than usual whenever they talked with him.
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ shakes her head and says you can’t get married despite your fine looks because you are a fool.]
[The Celestial ‘Nameless Giant’ looks at her silly apostle candidate, clicking her tongue.]
Not knowing what he had done wrong, Yeong-Geun just looked elsewhere. He felt like he was going to make Ueopwang angrier if he said more, so he decided to just stay quiet.
* * *
While everyone was enjoying the so-called group dinner, Chang-Sun told the others he was going to get some air. Holding a can of beer, he came out to the terrace.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ silently watches you, shutting his mouth tight.]
Heoju had been acting as if he was greatly discontented with something for a while. Although Chang-Sun thought about ignoring Heoju, he kind of wanted to know what was on his mind. The more Chang-Sun found out about Heoju, the more weapons he could use against him.
‘Still, I didn’t know he had such a side,’ Chang-Sun thought with surprise.
As soon as the other four Celestials hung out with humans, Heoju reacted to it. Chang-Sun believed Heoju always followed his instincts, but it seemed even he surprisingly could feel lonely. Chang-Sun had never seen this side of him.
Pzz―!
Chang-Sun heard the fizz when he opened the beer can. He had stopped drinking to cleanse his body since his return to Earth, but he occasionally drank nowadays when he was having fun.
“Are you lonely?” Chang-Sun asked, sipping on the can. Heoju instantly sent a reply.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ angrily yells that you’re being absurd.]
‘I must have successfully provoked him.’ Chang-Sun assumed.
Heuju, a very prideful Celestial, was bound to react that way upon being provoked. Smiling in his thoughts, Chang-Sun took a step back and bowed. “I apologize if I was being arrogant. I asked because I thought a deity is bound to be lonely.”
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ quietly glares at you.]
“Again, I apologize if I made you upset. Please forgive me,” Chang-Sun politely continued.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ warns you that he will never forgive you if you cross a line again.]
“Thank you.” Chang-Sun bowed deeper, but it was very hard to not sneer.
‘Idiot. Who does he think he is to talk about forgiveness?’ Chang-Sun thought.
In Chang-Sun’s eyes, Heoju’s reaction was truly ridiculous. Heoju was a deity who couldn’t even become a Zodiac, while Chang-Sun had been as powerful as the Zodiacs. Hence, he naturally thought less of Heoju.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ has gone silent.]
Heoju didn’t say anything for quite some time. Noticing how Heoju fell into deep thought, Chang-Sun slowly drank beer. After he had taken three or four sips, Heoju sent new messages.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ tells you that he met a man who was as similar to you in his world.]
‘Who is he talking about?’ Chang-Sun decided to just listen to Heoju’s story for now.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ adds that he was a crazy and arrogant man who did not know how scary the world was.]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ says others eventually hated him and ultimately collapsed. ]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ explains that that was why the man was respectable. ]
‘… He’s…’ Chang-Sun’s eyes shone for a moment. ‘…talking about me.’
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ recalls the moment he first met the man in Arcadia’s plain.]
‘What? Not while he was with <Horoscope> or <Purple Star Astrology>?’ Chang-Sun wondered.
The <Horoscope> referred to the <Society> led by the Zodiacs, while the <Purple Star Astrology> was the <Society> of stars led by the Three Circles—deities who were as great as the Zodiacs. The two <Societies> basically ruled Heaven right now, and the members were on very bad terms with Chang-Sun since they were the ones who caused the ‘Divine Twilight’ to plummet.
Heoju was a member of the <Purple Star Astrology>, which all kinds of monster deities, demonic deities, and evil deities had joined. When the conflict between Chang-Sun and the <Horoscope> had reached its climax, Chang-Sun joined the <Purple Star Astrology> but soon had to leave it because his opinions contradicted those of the <Purple Star Astrology> executives. He tried leaving quietly but ended up creating quite a disturbance instead, creating a conflict between him and <Purple Star Astrology> too.
Chang-Sun remembered that was the first time he had met the arrogant deity called Heoju, yet now Heoju claimed he had already met him elsewhere. As if to answer Chang-Sun’s questions, Heoju continued to send more messages.
‘It was him.’ Chang-Sun remembered an ancient memory to recall Heoju.
“Are you the crazy combat deity who grabbed Antares by his collar and kicked him?”
While Chang-Sun was fighting tedious battles against the <Horoscope>’s deities, a white-haired man approached him. The madness in the man’s eyes left an impression on Chang-Sun.
“What do I have to do to become strong like you?” The man asked.
However, Chang-Sun was extremely fatigued since he had been fighting for quite some time by then. Hence, he couldn’t afford to answer the man gently.
‘What did I say?’ Chang-Sun wondered and soon remembered his reply.
“Get lost,” Chang-Sun growled.
Although the white-haired man had been looked down upon, he didn’t get angry, Rather, he just laughed ominously before disappearing. Now that he had thought about it, the white-haired man, Heoju, had taken the lead when the <Purple Star Astrology> deities tried to kill him. It seemed Heoju held a grudge for what happened during their first encounter…
‘Was he always targeting me?’ Chang-Sun wondered.
Perhaps Heoju had been because his pride had been hurt, but Chang-Sun thought he could have another reason. Heoju looked up to him, so he wanted to surpass him. Beating one’s idol meant surpassing them.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ wants to warn you.]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ says he thought the star would shine coldly forever, but in Heaven, even such a star can fall. He adds that since you are a mortal, it won’t be strange if you die any time soon.]
Chang-Sun stayed silent.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ says he will support you to avoid that from happening.]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ advises you to never keep anyone who will just be a burden to you.]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ concludes that the fallen star could shine very brightly because he was alone.]
Chang-Sun could finally understand what Heoju was thinking. Heoju wasn’t lonely. He just didn’t want Chang-Sun to have colleagues. After talking about the ‘Divine Twilight,’ Heoju preached about not making any burdensome colleagues, staying lonely so he could shine like a star… or something along those lines. It was very ridiculous advice for Chang-Sun, but he half-heartedly agreed to do it.
On the other hand, Chang-Sun wasn’t sure why Heoju had brought up the story about the ‘Divine Twilight.’ Did he just use it as an example to make Chang-Sun his apostle? Or did he notice something and tried to find out what was on Chang-Sun’s mind?
‘The possibility of him knowing my identity is very low since Thanatos’ protection can’t be that poor. Then is it really a coincidence? But can it actually be a coincidence…?’ Chang-Sun wondered.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ has stopped explaining further since a smart subordinate like you must have understood already. ]
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ asks what your plan is.]
Although Chang-Sun still had some unsolved questions, he decided to take a rain check in getting the answers and slowly explained a part of his plan.
There was no link between the ‘Divine Twilight’ and Chang-Sun since Thanatos would have destroyed it already. In other words, Heoju would never truly believe Chang-Sun was the ‘Divine Twilight’ even if he started to doubt him. Having reached a conclusion, Chang-Sun had to pretend he didn’t know anything and kept walking forward. Heoju coincidentally bringing up that story likely just meant that he had started to adore him. Besides, the death trap for Heoju was in the making.
“A month,” Chang-Sun said.
[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ tilts his head, unable to understand you.]
“I’ll become a ranker within a month.” Chang-Sun declared.